Disclosed herein are insoles useful for treating skin injuries on a foot, for instance ulcers. The insoles are customizable for each patient's foot and can include various portions of differing softness, depending on the needs of the patient. For instance, it can be beneficial for certain sections of the foot to contact a firmer material, whereas other sections contact a softer material. Some, or all, of the materials can include one or more biofidelic skin simulant materials. Thus, various implementations include one or more regions that can include the same or different materials. For example, a custom insole can include a heel support region, a midfoot support region, and a forefoot support region, and the support regions can be subdivided into medial and lateral support regions or toe regions. One or more regions may have a custom isolation segment to prevent the progression of ulcers and/or expedite wound healing.

A component for a shoe, intended to be interposed between a foot and the ground, is delimited by an upper surface which, in use, is turned towards the foot. The upper surface comprises a load-bearing region in which at least one recess is made, the recess being configured to receive at least one metatarsal head of the foot, so that in the load-bearing region a plurality of metatarsal support levels is defined, the metatarsal support levels being placed at different heights from one another and being intended to support the metatarsal heads of the foot. The plurality of metatarsal support levels comprises, in the more simplified embodiment, two different metatarsal support levels. In a more complex embodiment, three different metatarsal support levels are provided. In a more complete embodiment, five different metatarsal support levels are provided.

A component for a shoe, intended to be interposed between a foot and the ground, is delimited by an upper surface which, in use, is turned towards the foot. The upper surface comprises a load-bearing region in which at least one recess is made, the recess being configured to receive at least one metatarsal head of the foot, so that in the load-bearing region a plurality of metatarsal support levels is defined, the metatarsal support levels being placed at different heights from one another and being intended to support the metatarsal heads of the foot. The plurality of metatarsal support levels comprises, in the more simplified embodiment, two different metatarsal support levels. In a more complex embodiment, three different metatarsal support levels are provided. In a more complete embodiment, five different metatarsal support levels are provided.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.

Foot support components include plural foot support members (e.g., arched slats or other support members) forming at least a portion of a footbed for a sole structure/article of footwear. Spacings between individual foot support members enable selective activation of one or more individual members, thereby providing support where needed and enhancing overall comfort without overly stiffening the footbed. When made from sufficiently rigid/resilient materials, the foot support components may apply return energy to the wearer's foot. This may occur, for example, by vertically deflecting (e.g., flattening out) one or more foot support members under applied force, and then the deflected foot support member(s) will spring back to and/or toward its/their original shape when the force sufficiently abates/relaxes.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first cushioning member extending continuously from an anterior end of the sole structure to a posterior end of the sole structure. The first cushioning member includes an upper side, a bottom side formed on an opposite side from the upper side, and a recess formed in the upper side. A first bladder is disposed within the recess adjacent to a lateral side of the sole structure and a second bladder is disposed within the recess adjacent to a medial side of the sole structure.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.